A special edition of the Excelencias Turísticas del Caribe magazine dedicated to the 500th anniversary of the foundation of San Cristóbal de La Habana and the 48th number of Arte por Excelencias were presented in the halls of the Great Theater of Havana Alicia Alonso. The evening was chaired by José Carlos de Santiago, president of the Excelencias Group; Luis Carlos Góngora, vice president of the Council of the Provincial Administration of Havana; the painter, writer and cultural promoter Ileana Mulet, one of whose works adorns the cover of AxE; Mabel Muñiz Ocaña, director of Abdala Productions; José Luis Estrada, editor of Excelencias Turísticas del Caribe; and Alexis Triana, executive director of Arte por Excelencias.
Among the more than two hundred attendees were also the pianist and National Music Prize Frank Fernández; the dancer Viengsay Valdés, artistic director of the National Ballet of Cuba; the glory of Cuban sport Ana Fidelia Quirot; Reynaldo González Zamora, National Literature Award; and numerous members of the diplomatic corps accredited in Havana.
The special number of Excelencias Turísticas del Caribe dedicated to the Cuban capital contains, among other works on the cultural and historical heritage of San Cristóbal de La Habana, an interview with the main maker of the restoration works undertaken in this city Cultural Heritage of Humanity: Dr. Eusebio Leal Spengler. Arte por Excelencias number 48, on the other hand, also highlights in its pages the event that has shaken the city in recent days, including a beautiful piece entitled «Today my Havana». Both publications contain two beautiful gifts from Abdala Productions: a DVD with the documentary Leal al tiempo, directed by Luis Alberto García (Excelencias Turística del Caribe) and a CD with the phonogram De amor a La Habana, by singer-songwriter Amaury Pérez Vidal (Arte por Excellencies).
“We are many people who work,” said José Carlos de Santiago, “those who love what we do, and therefore, we want to ask everyone for applause for the Government of Havana, for the person who represents Góngora. Without them, without your support, it would have been very difficult for us to make this number. Without their tireless work, dedication and effort we would not have had such brilliant fireworks and many other things that we cannot name today, there are so many that we would leave many in the inkwell. To be able to see everything that has been done during these years so that Havana, capital of all Cubans, shines with its own light, is priceless, and it is impossible to evaluate all the human effort that has entailed.
The importance of having these publications that are living memory of what has been done in recent years in order to receive the 500th anniversary of Havana with a more beautiful and human city was highlighted by Luis Carlos Góngora: «In the contributions to the celebration, in that joining permanently, the Excelencias Group always accompanied us. There is the Prize awarded to Cuba and Havana as safer tourist destinations, or the one given to the cocktail bar, as well as the different moments in which we have received the sincere and true gesture, that of a friend who accompanies another great friend who is this great city. In the special number of Excelencias Turísticas del Caribe, Havana is synthesized: history, culture, tradition, very important facts that mark and distinguish it. It is a magazine of symbols, of characters. When you read it, you will realize that it is like everything Excellencias does: a product that will continue to honor the city and distinguish the anniversary we have just celebrated. We have come to say thanks to Excelencias, thanks to José Carlos, thanks to all who have worked in this effort to continue transmitting that image of our city, that message, that legacy that Havana leaves in all of us ».
On the cover: (From left to right) Alexis Triana, Ileana Mulet, José Carlos de Santiago and Luis Carlos Góngora
Photos: Tito Meriño
